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How-To 15–30 minutes Medium

How to Change a Flat Tyre

Getting a puncture is stressful, but changing a tyre is manageable if you know the steps. Here's how to do it safely.

Safety first: Never change a tyre on a motorway hard shoulder if you can avoid it, it is extremely dangerous. If possible, drive slowly to the next junction or service station (a flat tyre is better than being hit). On other roads, pull as far from traffic as possible.

Before You Start

  • Check that your car has a spare tyre (some newer cars have a puncture repair kit instead, check the boot)
  • Locate the jack and wheel brace (usually stored with the spare tyre in the boot)
  • Turn on your hazard lights
  • Apply the handbrake
  • Place a warning triangle at least 45 metres behind your car
  • Put on a hi-vis vest if you have one
  • Ensure passengers wait safely away from the road

Step-by-Step: Changing the Tyre

  1. Loosen the wheel nuts before you jack up the car. Use the wheel brace to turn each nut anti-clockwise, just enough to break the resistance. Do not remove them yet. If you try to loosen nuts after jacking, the wheel will spin.
  2. Find the jacking point. There are reinforced areas on the sill (the bottom edge of the car body) specifically designed for the jack. Using the wrong spot can damage the car. Check your manual or look for a notch or arrow on the sill.
  3. Position the jack under the correct jacking point and raise the car until the flat tyre is about 10cm off the ground.
  4. Remove the wheel nuts fully (turn anti-clockwise) and place them somewhere safe, your pocket is a good choice.
  5. Remove the flat tyre by pulling it straight towards you. Place it under the car as a safety precaution in case the jack fails.
  6. Mount the spare tyre by lining up the holes and pushing it onto the bolts.
  7. Hand-tighten the wheel nuts in a diagonal (star) pattern, not in a circle. This ensures the wheel seats evenly. Start with one nut, then tighten the nut directly opposite, then work your way around.
  8. Lower the car until the tyre touches the ground but the car is not fully on the ground yet.
  9. Fully tighten the wheel nuts with the brace, still using the diagonal pattern. Use your body weight to tighten firmly.
  10. Lower the car fully and remove the jack.
  11. Check the spare tyre's pressure at the next garage or petrol station.

After Changing the Tyre

  • Space-saver spare tyres (the narrow temporary spare) have a maximum speed of 50mph, do not exceed this
  • Most space-savers should not be used for more than 50–70 miles
  • Get the flat tyre repaired or replaced as soon as possible
  • Re-check the wheel nuts after driving 50 miles, they can work loose after the first journey
Check your spare tyre regularly. A spare tyre with no air in it is useless in an emergency. Check the pressure of your spare whenever you check your other tyres.